Starting in the 1930s, rabbit farming finally managed to carve out a place for itself among the livestock sectors. In times of crisis, the rabbit proved to be a fundamental resource and suitable for the country's economic supply policy. In fact, the closing of the borders during the war period and the consequent shortage of beef, pork and sheep meat induced a growing number of families (farmers and otherwise) to dedicate themselves to rabbit farming, managing to use them both as food and to supplement the family budget. In the space of a decade, in Ticino, rabbit owners increased from 7,800 to 13,000, and rabbits from 46,000 to 76,000.